MOLD and Argoed councillors have joined the fight against the proposed changes to Flintshire’s ward system by the Boundary Commission.

Councillors have been petitioning residents against the proposals, which would see existing wards merged to create fewer but larger wards and the number of Flintshire county councillors reduced from 70 to 60.

Town councillors have been gathering signatures against the changes, which would see Mold reduced from a four ward town to one.

They accused the Boundary Commission of being ‘lazy’ and not taking into account the feelings and needs of local people.

The move could also see areas that currently have a representative each sharing one.

Mold town councillor Joyce Jones said: “These villages aren’t going to stand a chance, there will be four or five villages but only one candidate, but they will still be expected to pay the same rates.”

Cllr Chris Bithell agreed, saying there was ‘universal opposition against the plans,’ which could see candidates having to canvass an area with 8,000 voters, which he called an impractical and expensive exercise and something that would alienate residents from their councillors.

Argoed community councillors have heavily criticised plans to merge New Brighton with Halkyn instead of Mynydd Isa.

There were also concerns that children would have to go to schools further away if wards changed.

In a letter to the Boundary Commission, the community council said they opposed the division of New Brighton and Mynydd Isa into separate county council wards, ‘owing to the well-established community of interest and educational, cultural, social and historical links’.